General News.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19285, 14 April 1928, Page 14

General News.

The auction advertisements of H. G. Livingstone, and Co., Dalgety and Co., Ltd., B. S. McKenzie and Co., L. P. Devlin, Tonks, Norton, and Co., Ltd., McKenzie and Willis, Lohrey and Co., Ltd., Wallace, Wade, Co., Ltd., H. C. Smith, N.Z. Farmers' Co-op., Association, Ltd, H. B. Sorensen, and H. Matson and Co., appear on Page ,23 of this issue. The report of the executive of the Labour Party presented to the conference at Wellington this week stated that taking the capitation fees received as a basis the membership of the Party for last year was 45,586. —Press Service.

The Mayor (Mr J. K.. Archer) has received two contributions on behalf of the Mission to Lepers, which has its headquarters in London. Representatives of this body, who are at present in the Dominon, will visit Christchurch shortly. The ferry steamer Maori will not leave Wellington until after 11 o'clock to-night and is expected to arrive at Lyttelton about 10.30 to-morrow morning. The Maori is being detained at Wellington to enable Fuller's musical comedy company to connect. Members of the Main Highways Board will arrive in Christchurch from Waikari about midday on May Ist. In the afternoon they will confer with representatives of the Canterbury Progress lieague and receive a number of deputations. At the request of the Canterbury Progress League, the Mayor, Mr J. K. Archer, has consented to call a public meeting, to be held in the City Council Chambers on April 23rd, for the purpose of discussing the proposed formation of a Light Aeroplane Club. May 3rd has been selected as an alternative date.

In testing out motorists on their ability to drive in Mil country, the City Council's traffic inspectors are having a very busy time, processions of cars going to Cashmere daily. Motorists known to be experienced are put through the tests on the ramp. in the Council's yard, to save time. About 3000 quinnat salmon, with an average weight of approximately twelve pounds, are said to havo been taken from the Waimakariri river since the season opened by the three men holding netting licenses and by anglers. The fonner are credited with having secured two-thirds of the total. The season, which is now ending, has been the best experienced. All of the junior officers in the fields division of the Department of Agriculture stationed in the South Island are under orders to attend a course of instruction in experimental work to be conducted in Ohristchurch from April 24th to May 7th. It is hoped to achieve greater uniformity in dealing with the problems with which the Department has to contend. Last year the Canterbury A. and P. Association's Winter Show was arranged too late to organise a really representative display of fruit, but this year the Committee is taking steps to obtain the co-operation of the Fruitgrowers' Associations, and it hopes to arrange a display on a scale not previously attempted in Canterbury. The Department of Agriculture has undertaken to assist in the organising of the exhibit of fruit and honey, as well as other farm and orchard produce.

Sesidents of the vicinity of Smarts pond, Sydenham, are indignant at the action of the City Council in using household rubbish for filling in purposes. It is stated that the practice is a menace to health, encouraging the fly and rat nuisance. A petition urging that it should cease is being widely signed, and will probably be presented to the City Council at its meeting on Monday evening. The City Engineer (Mr A. E. Galbraith) visited the pond yesterday afternoon connexion with the representations.

Considerable interest was displayed by the public yesterday in the model of the proposed new lay-out of Cathedral square, built by Mr W. E. Bateman for the Christchurch City Council, which was on display in one of the windows at the main entrance to the premises of the New Zealand Farmers' Cooperative Association of Canterbury in Cashel street. The model, which has been built to the scale of half an inch to one foot, has been strikingly executed, and illustrates well the colonnade scheme designed by Mr S. Hurst Seager.

The extent to which acclimatisation work is hampered, by the depredations of pests was referred at the annual meeting of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society. Following remarks made by the retiring president, Mr C. A. Whitney, regarding the havoo wrought by hawks, stoats, wild ferrets, shags, pukekos, and kingfishers, the newlyclected president, Mr F. E. McKenzie. said the Society would have to considei the advisability of spending a larger portion of its £4OOO of revenue on, the extermination of pests, even if such a policy meant spending less on the liberation of game. '

"You are a happy people out here," said Mr A. 6. Bobertson, a London visitor, in Dunedin. "Your social and industrial troubles < are very small ones in comparison with those o£ the Old World. As far as I can see 'they are confined to a few petty jealousies such as the rivalry between the North and South Islands. " It was a great change, he said, to move about a country without having one's pleasure in travelling marred by the constant sight of extreme poverty and degradation which were so common in many countries of the. Old World.

A big attraction at Stewart Island during Easter was the Norwegian whaling vessel C. A. Larsen, and the sight of the unfortunate vessel never failed to draw the marked attention of visitors to the whaling base in Paterson's Inlet. The oil tanker Spirianger, which arrived at the . whaling base on April 4th, has completed her task of loading the oil from the C. A. Larsen. As the oil was discharged, the C. A. Larsen rose in the water like a balloon, and she is now floating high and clear. She was expected to get away for Port Chalmers towards the end of this week. As soon as she is cleared by, the Customs, the Spinanger will sail for New York with her cargo of oil. "The Council has approved of the principle of alliances between batteries of the Artillery of the Dominion Forces and batteries, of the Royal Regiment of Artillery, provided they are, sought for the purpose of creating a practical as well as a sentimental botid of friendship," states a General Order issued to the New Zealand Military Forces, "Battery commanders may correspond - direct with British units on this subject. Once a common understanding has been reached, the New Zealand battery commander will forward an official request for the alliance through the usual channels, stating at the same time the practical advantages of the proposed union."-

The jury list for the district of Christchurch, as revised, was signed by Mr H. A. Young, S.M., yesterday. With the approach of winter the police are keeping a sharp look-out for cyclists who do not carry reflectors on their bicycles. Monday will see the commencement of the last of the regular military camps of the year. The southern depot of the Amy Service Crops will go into camp at Burnham then for a week. The Christchurch Domains Board, meeting as the Gardens Committee, yesterday inspected various sites in Haglev Park on which it is proposed to plant additional trees. A full report of the inspection will come before the Board in due course. A fine sambur head has been taken at Tokomaru, in the Manawatu district, by Mr J. E. Warrington. The antlers are said to be exceptionally heavy. Some ten years ago a pair of sambur antlers was found, apparently shed, in a swamp in the Manawatu district, which snares with the Horowhenua, Oroua, and Rangitikei districts the honour of possessing the only sambur in New Zealand.

"There are great commercial possibilities in the expo.rt of eels," said Mr C. A. Whitney, retiring president of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society at the annual meeting. "Millions of eels go down the rivers every year to the sea. Why should we not send smoked or frozen eels to England, where they would command high prices?" Mr Whitney said the society should consider engaging in such an undertaking so that additional funds would be available for stocking the rivers with fish. In spite of the great increase in the popularity of - motor-cars and motorcycles, the humble bicycle is now more universally used than ever before, according to a Dunedin dealer. "Whereas we once considered ourselves lucky if we sold 300 bicycles in a year, we now sell 800," he told a "Daily Times" reporter, "and our firm is only one of a number which have had a similar experience." One large Auckland firm, he added, now sold an average of over 2000 bicycles a year. Last night a large number of the congregation of the Papanui Methodist Church met to welcome the Rev. Arthur Hopper, from Roslyn, who is succeeding the Rev. H. L. Blamires. A short induction service was preached by the Rev. L. B. Neale, and an address was given by the Rev. S. J. Werren, of the Edgeware Church. After the service the congregation adjourned to the Sunday Schoolroom, where a social was held. The speeches were interspersed with musical and elocutionary items.

"When I presented your trophies three years ago I said that in coming to New there were two branches of sport in which I hoped to excel," said his Excellency Sir Charles Fergusson at Auckland, when handing to players the prizes won in the championship golf tournament. The Gover-nor-General added that one of those branches of sport was yachting, and the other golf. "My success has been phenomenal," added his Excellency amidst laughter. "I have twice figurod in the cockpit of the yacht Ariki when she has been racing, and the present is my third,visit to a golf course—to present the prizes."

The Railway Department at Wellington has taken over control of all the buses operating on the Hutt road in connexion with the Wellington-Hutt services. Negotiations have been completed with Messrs Cecil, Hare, and Anyon • (Hutt Combined Services), as the result of which the one outstanding fleet of buses, the "Red Fleet," which these firms corftrolled, will be operated by the Railway Department in conjunction with the buses already acquired. The number now controlled by the Department on that run is nearly forty. Time-tables and fares will be maintained as in the past, and the services of existing staffs have been retained. '

"An invitation has been extended by the Chief of the Imperial General Staff. War Office, London, to all officers of the New Zealand Military Forces, visiting England, who so desire, to attend collective training with the Regular Armv or the annual training of the Territorial Army, providing no cost is thrown on British Army funds," states a General Order, issued to the New Zealand Defence Forces. "The collective training season extends from March Ist to October Ist annually. All officers desiring to take advantage of this invitation should arrange details direct with the High Commissioner for New Zealand in London, but it must be understood that no expense in this connexion will be admissible against New Zealand funds."

A loophole has been discovered in the regulations amending the closing hours of tobacconists in the combined districts of Auckland. The possibility of Friday, almost universally observed as the late night,' being taken for the statutory half-holiday has been overlooked, and, as closing hours have been stipulated for the other five days, a way has been paved for tobacconists to trade at all hours of the day and night except Friday, and, of course, Sunday, which is governed by general legislation. While the majority of tobacconists will not be prepared to sacrifice their trade on the busiest day, Friday, the indications are that some will avail themselves of the loophole, particularly where the establishments are situated in the vicinity of places of amusement, where a continual demand for cigarettes is likely.—Press Association. Oliver Tractor Implements are made of high carbon steel and therefore the strongest and lightest draught on the market. Prices are also right. Enquire from T. and S. Morrin and Fenwick, Ltd., 377 Moorhouse avenue. 'Phone 4849. —6

Johnston's N.C. Motor Co., Ltd.. Central Garage, Rangiora. Complete plant and staff for repairs in motorcars and tractors. Tyres. Petrol, and all accessories in stock. Garage 'Phone 87. W. C. Wilson, Travelling Rep.; A. Prestney, Manager. Private 'Phone 88. —1

The latest in Horse Clipping Machines: We have just opened up new models of "Stewart" and ''Burman" Machines, together with full stocks of Extra Heads, Combs, and Cutters. We are also offering Martins "Climax" and "Improved" Hand Clippers at attractiveprices. Ashby Bergh and Co., Ltd., High street. —6 Testimonial to our latest improved tractor plough, signed by Mr Whisker, Mr Allison, and the otfier successiu) ploughmen at 1927 ploughing matches. "We haVe used the P. and D. Duncan tractor plough at the matches in 1927, and found the plough and the lift O.K in every particular, thoroughly reliable in action, convenient to operate, perfect control of depth, the double steerage a great improvement, the back wheel lever a great saving of time and trouble. No doubt this is the perfect tractor plough." P. and D. Duncan, Ltd., Tuam street, Christchurch. —6 When Armstrongs receive a notice to the effect that the Official Assignee in Bankruptcy has acoepted their tender for the entire warehouse stock of B. J. Marriner and forwards a receipt for the deposit guarantee, it. is quite to be expected that some great bargains are in store for the public. As this has recently happened and the stocks, are delivered and marked off,. Armstrongs are opening a Sale of this magnificent; warehouse stock on Wednesday, April 18th. The goods are of the latest and newest patterns and comprise all the best designs and qualities that the World's Markets produce. Every department from Silks to Millinery is represented, and as usual., Armstrongs are passing their bargain on t<> the public, so don't fail to avail yourself of this unique opportunity, / —2